Alexandria, VA – Actions that bottled water companies continue to take to reduce their environmental footprint are highlighted on Earth Day, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) announced today. “We agree with the organizers of Earth Day that education is the foundation for progress, which is why IBWA is taking this opportunity to educate the public about the bottled water industry’s continued efforts to reduce the impact of its products and its dedication to protecting our environment and natural resources,” says Jill Culora, vice president of communications for IBWA. Some of these measures include: Lightweighting PET plastic packaging. With an average weight of 9.25 grams per 16.9 ounce single-serve container, bottled water uses one-third the amount of PET it takes to make soda and other drink containers, which need to be thicker due to carbonation and manufacturing processes and weigh, on average, 23.9 grams. Reducing water used in production facilities. On average, it takes only 1.32 liters of water i to produce 1 liter of finished bottled water (including the liter of water consumed). This is the lowest water-use ratio of any packaged beverage product. Using less energy. On average, only 0.24 mega joules of energy are used to produce 1 liter of bottle of water – the lowest amount compared to any packaged drink. Providing consumers with packaging that is 100 percent recyclable (even the caps). Entering into partnerships with stakeholders to educate consumers and increase recycling rates. Home and office delivery…